ABUJA— Youth groups from Cross River State have praised Governor Bassey Edet Otu and his deputy, Peter Odey, for their leadership over the past three years, citing increased youth participation in governance, economic revitalisation efforts, and development initiatives aimed at improving opportunities and living conditions across the state.
The commendation came from the Chairman of the Youth Council of Nigeria (YCN), Cross River State chapter, Emmanuel Olayi, during activities marking the third anniversary of the Otu administration.
Speaking at the event, Olayi expressed appreciation to the governor for creating opportunities for young people to participate in governance and leadership, noting that the administration has demonstrated a genuine commitment to empowering the youth population.
According to him, the state’s youth community remains grateful for the governor’s support for youth development initiatives, empowerment programmes, and capacity-building opportunities that have positively impacted young people across the state.
Olayi recalled the Youth Council’s “Not Too Young to Lead” campaign launched ahead of party primaries, adding that the campaign was aimed at encouraging political parties to create more opportunities for young people to seek elective positions.
He noted that shortly after the campaign, several young persons emerged as candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the development as a positive step toward greater youth participation in governance.
“We commend His Excellency for his deliberate efforts towards youth inclusion in leadership and governance. We also encourage other political parties and stakeholders to emulate this example by creating more opportunities for young people to contribute to the development of our state and nation,” he said.
The youth leader further lauded the administration’s empowerment initiatives, including financial support programmes and ICT training opportunities designed to equip young people with relevant skills for the modern economy.
As part of the anniversary activities, Olayi formally presented to Governor Otu a comprehensive report arising from the Youth Council’s statewide “Future First Unity and Assessment Tour,” which sought to gather the views, concerns, and aspirations of young people across the eighteen local government areas of the state.
He explained that the report contains critical findings and recommendations from engagements with youths across the state and is intended to support ongoing efforts to strengthen governance and development outcomes.
In addition, the Youth Council presented a Seal of Appreciation and Endorsement to the governor, an honour which emerged from the grand finale of the statewide youth engagement and assessment exercise.
Olayi stated that the endorsement reflects the confidence reposed in the governor by many young people who have witnessed improvements in governance, infrastructure development, economic revitalization efforts, and youth-focused programmes under the current administration.
He assured the governor of the continued partnership and support of the youth community in advancing the state’s development agenda, emphasizing that young people remain critical stakeholders in the quest to build a more prosperous Cross River State.
The anniversary celebration attracted prominent Cross Riverians, government officials, political leaders, youth groups, and other stakeholders who gathered to reflect on the achievements of the administration over the past three years and chart a path for future progress.
